THE ABBOTSFORD PROPERTY.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 20, 20 February 1906, Page 2

THE ABBOTSFORD PROPERTY.

—o— During his visit to Waipawa, the Premier’s attention was drawn by a deputation to a matter pertaining to the acquisition of the Abbotsford property (Rathbone estate). He was asked if the owners retained 20u0 acres each, would the Government see that the frontages to the town were open for selection? Mr Seudun said that 4uoo acres at the back of the, run, chiefly along tne Waipawa-Hampden road, had been offered to the Government on the condition that none of the other properties were compulsorily acquired within five years. It was a dangerous thing to accept any condition not provided for by law. There were special difficulties in this case, so many interested having the right to land that it they exercised that right it might not be of such great benefit to the town to acquire the Abbotsford property. He thought it best to leave the matter for t he Compensation Court to settle. All the questions asked would receive his consideration. What decided the Government to acquire Abbotsford property was a telegram from Mr Hall, stating that justice must be done to the town of Waipawa in this matter. It was in the interests of the people that land should be acquired for settlement purposes. The imposition of the graduated land tax struck the death note of large estates. The Government would have to be mure active in acquiring large estates for settlement purposes. It was the bounded duty of Parliament to place, people on on the land.